We're at the final four game stretch of the season. There are no more BYE weeks. The film is out and there is very little to hide with scheme. The stats are going to give a decent picture of what teams are.

Two ways to look at this. One is the defense is bad. We give up a lot of points and a lot of passing yards. Losing Elvis Dumervil for the season and the injuries and suspension of Von Miller really did a number on our defense. I also think that we are 10-2 with a -4 turnover ratio speaks to some of this - but not all. Yes, teams have to pass more on us to keep up. Yes, we've had some turnovers. But at the end of the day, we are what we are. I think if we can get that number in the teens - especially the scoring part, we can be good enough to win a championship. But until then, don't hold your breath.

How the mighty have fallen. The Chiefs are a wild card team and may only win 1 or 2 more games. I fully expect their final games to even out as they continue to play starting QB's. They have given up 30+ points the last several games. Their special teams and defense has continued to help them inflate what is still a mediocre offense with little talent. The Chiefs are who we thought they were. Their record is indicative of facing bad teams and their turnover margin - remember they were barely beating many of those teams at home.

The Patriots were all set up to be one of the most balanced teams going into the playoffs. Then their injuries on defense really set them back. They can't stop the run and have been outscored in the first half of the last few games by 50 points. Still, they are a big threat and are balanced enough to do damage and go all the way in a very weak AFC.

The Bengals losing Atkins was a huge blow - similar to the Patriots losing Wilfork Cottonspork. They do have all the elements to win their division, though with a two game lead and four games to play. They are a very underrated team.

If there's one team that isn't looking so hot it is the Colts. Andrew Luck has leveled off quite a bit. And while still a good player, he hasn't taken the step that other elites do in their second year (Manning, Brady, and even Russel Wilson). Obviously losing Reggie Wayne was a huge part of that. But so was trading for a recently benched Trent Richardson. Still, the Ravens looked similar last year and got hot at the right time. They can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone and look like they have lost some of their mojo.

I wanted to throw this out there for comparison. The Seahawks are a total juggernaut. Everything is pretty much where you want it. And don't be fooled by Wilson's meager passing yardage. They run the ball a lot because they have a lead and Wilson himself will take off at a moment's notice. He's like a rich man's Jake Plummer. And like Plummer his teammates love him. If we make it to the Super Bowl, it is probably going to be the Seahawks. The only thing that gives me hope is their issues in the secondary and they'll have to play on a neutral field.

I could have put up numbers for the Panthers and Saints as well, but I wanted to focus on probably AFC opponents we will see in the playoffs.

We can get where we need to, but some things need to improve. We need to play better pass defense. DRC coming back will make a HUGE difference. Also we need to really work on turnovers. We've been trying all year but it just isn't happening. If we can get those things up, we have a decent shot to go all the way. Especially if we have home field.

Our Points allowed are at least slightly skewed due to defensive/special teams TD's and those turnovers you mentioned. Denver has given up 10+ points in several games due to turnovers and special teams. Those are far and away the weakness of the team....less so the defense.

Out of curiosity, whats the broncos D average starting FP this year? It seems we give up a lot of turnovers in our own territory. Like even last week, looking at the box score, you'd assume 28 pts is a lot to give up. But then when you realize 7 were on a kickoff return and another 7 on a very short field, it doesnt look as bad.

I made a bet after week 3 that the Broncos would end up with a top 20 ranked defense, when Denver was ranked 27th or 28th. It was looking pretty good once Von returned......until halftime of the Pats game. We need a healthy DRC and Co. to have any chance at it.

We're at the final four game stretch of the season. There are no more BYE weeks. The film is out and there is very little to hide with scheme. The stats are going to give a decent picture of what teams are.

Two ways to look at this. One is the defense is bad. We give up a lot of points and a lot of passing yards. Losing Elvis Dumervil for the season and the injuries and suspension of Von Miller really did a number on our defense. I also think that we are 10-2 with a -4 turnover ratio speaks to some of this - but not all. Yes, teams have to pass more on us to keep up. Yes, we've had some turnovers. But at the end of the day, we are what we are. I think if we can get that number in the teens - especially the scoring part, we can be good enough to win a championship. But until then, don't hold your breath.

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ugh...before the kc game they were 26th in points and yardage. Unfortunately our best defense is our offense

The Seahawk stats look similar to the Broncos' last season. Everything pointed toward the Broncos and they had a fairly healthy team going into the playoffs. And they screwed it up. Ugh.

And that's the thing. You either get to play the Seahawks or the team that beat the Seahawks in their house - on a neutral field. And the SB is in New York, so it may be frigid cold.

Obviously these are problems we want to have. We'll have to get there first. All of the playoff teams are dangerous. If I had my druthers I'd like to get the Colts here and then have Cincy knock off the Patriots and come here. We'll have to see how it shakes out.

Seahawks are just better than everybody. Don't think anyone will beat them.

People say this type of thing about some team every year in December. The fact of the matter is, only 2 #1 seeds have won the super bowl since re-alignment in 2002. The 2003 Pats, and the 2009 Saints. The only time 2 #1 seeds have met in the Super Bowl since re-alignment is the 2009 Saints & Colts.

So were split with Seattle on losing to Indy, and we lost to the Pats in Foxboro on a freezing night.. something tells me that Seattle would struggle in Fox just like everybody does... except that this "Seattle" place seems to be cold and harsh like NY and New England I guess...